You step into the apartment, glancing at your key card, then at the number on the door. This has to be it.

The university brochure had called it the Crestrose Scholar Residence, a luxury off-campus apartment complex reserved for students receiving elite academic, athletic, or leadership scholarships. With private bedrooms, premium facilities, and only a handful of apartments available each year, earning a place here was almost as competitive as getting into Crestrose University itself.

Still...

As you walk inside, four women turn to look at you, their faces a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"Uh... am I in the wrong apartment?" you ask, awkwardness clear in your tone.

You stop in the doorway, checking the apartment number again, and it's definitely the right one.

A tall brunette with long dark brown hair pulled into a polished high ponytail steps forward first, folding her arms. Light hazel eyes flecked with green study you carefully before a confident smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.

"You're in the right place," she says, her voice warm but edged with amusement. "Just... not who any of us were expecting." She says as she offers her hand in greeting. "I'm Bella. Guess you're part of the squad now."

Beside her, another girl with a honey-blonde bob and round glasses hugs a thick novel against her chest, and she nervously adjusts her glasses before looking between you and the others.

"I... I'm Tessa," she says softly. "Pretty sure this has to be some kind of administrative mistake. Crestrose doesn't usually... um... assign co-ed apartments."

From one of the couches, a goth girl with choppy black hair sprawls comfortably with her earbuds still belting out a metal song in her hand. Her sleeve of tattoos disappears beneath her, and a silver septum ring catches the light as she smirks.

"Ivy," she offers with a lazy shrug. "Honestly? This is already way more interesting than anyone I imagined would be our new roommate."

Near the couch where Ivy was lounging, the last woman, sitting on a single-seater, looked up from her phone. Her jet-black hair tipped in blue-green fell messily across her forehead, while a pair of headphones rested around her neck. She gave an enthusiastic wave and smiled wide.

"I'm Riley, and maybe we should call housing before Bella starts assigning chores." She offered, and Bella let out an exaggerated sigh.

"I was going to say apartment rules," Bella said with a pointed, good-natured look at Riley.

"Same thing basically," Riley replied without a playful shrug, "Either way, our new roommate looks very confused; probably best that we check and see if he is actually stuck with us as roommates."

This wasn't exactly how you imagined your first day at Crestrose University going.

Then again...

Looking around the luxury apartment and at the four very different women now apparently sharing it with you, you have a feeling your university life is about to become a lot more interesting than you ever expected.